Rug or carpet cleaning machine



M. A. THOMPSON 2,290,782

July 21, 1942.

1 RUG OR CARPET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l l R k W 3 c M I v w MA. THOMPJOA/ INVENTOR AT iORN EY y 1942- M. A. THQMPSON 2,290,782

' RUG OR CARPET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug 31, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M A THOMPSO/V'INVENTOR.

v ATTORNEY y 21, 1942. 'M. A; THOMPSON" 2,290,732.

RUG 0R CARPET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 5 I 52 94 a; (\Q Q l 90 7 9 q I .67 v I I I :f K j 'u UK? 3% 1/ f I 1 VI 13.

I /4/ '0' a Q 36 ATTORNEY.

IE-E WWW J y 1942- Q M. A. THOMPSON 2,290,782

RUG OR CARPET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1938 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 M A. THOMPSON INVENTQR;

Patented Juiy 21, 1942 Ehi 6 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a machine for removing dustand dirt from fabrics, such as rugs and carpets. Among the objects of this invention are to provide a generally improved machine ofthe type indicated; to provide an improved machine for the removal of dry dirt from woven fabrics, primarily pile fab1ics;"to'provide a machine of the character stated which will beat and brush a fabric and withdraw the loosened dirt by the action of a suction apparatus; to provide a machine for the purpose'indicated containing improved mechanism for sectionalizing the machine so that his not necessary to operate the entire length of the machine when only a narrow fabric is being run therethough; to provide improved means for supporting the fabric being treated so that it will not rest upon the floor during the cleaning operation; to provide a machine in which'the beating force applied to the fabric may be readily adjusted to the desired intensity; and such further objects, advangages, and capabilities as will hereafter appearand as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings'and, while I have shown therein what is now regarded as -the preferred embodiment of this invention,

I desirethe same to be understood as illustrative only and not t6 be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Ih the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents one embodiment of my new machine, in plan view, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of a structure embodying my' present invention;

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, looking at the opposite end of the machine from that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents an elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, observing the same at a right angle to the direction of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 represents a transverse sectional elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inelusive;

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary plan View of one of the beating arms;

Fig. 7 represents a section through arm as illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 represents anenlarged view of a .portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary transverse section of one corner of the machine.

a beating Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings for a more complete description of this invention. Externally, the machine looks much like a box on legs. This 5 box may be made'of any desired length but it' seems preferable to make it of sufiicient size to receive the largest rugs'in common use. There are several sizes of rugs which are twelve feet in width but not many that are wider than'that. Therefore, it appears desirable that the machine be built to receive rugs up to twelve feet inwidth. If a carpet which is" wider than twelve feet is to be cleaned, it may be ripped along one of the seamsand then run through the machine in two pieces. In this way, it is possible to avoid the necessity of building an excessively large machine. However, it will be understood'that machines longer than twelve feet maybe built to take in fabrics of a greater width. As will be set forth more fully hereinafter, this machine may be operated in sections to accomplish the cleaning of rugs of various widths and also hall runners, stair carpets, and strips of carpeting. It is pref erable to have the machine so construe-ted as to operate in sections of different widths. I prefer to have the first four sections each twenty-seven (27-) inches wide and the fifth section forty-two (42) inches wide.' However, the number of sec tions used is dependent upon the width of the so fabric and may be anywhere from one section to the ,entire'width of themachine."

The boX or body I of the machine is provided near two adjacent corners with brackets 2 and 3 for the support of the work-supporting roller 4. The fabric 5 to'be cleaned is rolled up on the roller 4 and then an end is fed into the machine and carried through to the opposite side where it is rolled up, as illustrated at'B, in the trough 1. This trough may be supported by brackets 8 connected to the box I, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

Within the box is a container 9 having an inclined bottom I ii, the lower edge of which extends to a door or plurality of doors, indicated by the numeral ll. These may be opened to permit sand, dirt, and dust which may accumulate in the container to bedischarged therefrom merely by opening the door or doors H. Within the container 9 is a suction pipe i2 whichis connected at one end of the cleaner, by means of'a pipe 12a, .with the blower l3. A pipe I4 leads from the discharge end of the blower to the desired point of discharge where the dust received in the pipe l2 will be blown out, as is obvious. The pipe I2 is provided along its side adjacent the fabric with a slot or other valve opening I5 which is covered by a series of valve-closure members I6, preferably corresponding in number to the number of sections of the machine. The valve-closure members I6 are operated to uncover the openings I5 in a manner to be now described.

Connected to a valve-closure member I6 is a link I! which is in turn connected to a lever I8 pivotally connected to the suction pipe I2 or any other conveniently located structure. The lever I8 is connected to actuating link I9 by means of which the lever may be actuated to cause movement of the valve-closure member I6. The latter is provided, adjacent its two ends, with slots through which extend pins 2| by means of which the closure members I6 are slidably connected to the pipe I2. A lever 22 is pivotally connected to a crossbar 23 and, as is clearly obvious from Fig. 5, this lever 22 may be turned about its pivot into various positions of adjustment. Suitable means, such as a plate 24, is secured to the lever 22, as indicated in Fig. 5, and has a portion 25 extending laterally, as shown in Fig. 4, to engage with any one of a plurality of projections 26. These projections hold the lever 22 against any undesired upward movement, after the lever has been adjusted to a desired position.

A rod 21 is pivotally connected to the lever 22 and fits slidably in a socket 28 constituting a part of the link I9 and having an arm 29 projecting laterally therefrom. This; arm is connected to the lever 22 by a spring 316, as shown in Fig. 5. When the lever 22 is moved downwardly about its pivotal connection with the crossbar 23, the spring 36 transmits force to the arm 29 and link I9 and from this through the lever I8 and link I! to the valve-closure plate I6. When this latter moves until the forward end of slots 26 engage the pins 2I, the plate I6 is unable to move farther and the link I9 must therefore stop. This occurs when the lever 22 has moved downwardly but a short distance, as, for example, one or two notches. At such times, the slot I5 is entirely uncovered, thus allowing free entrance of air from the vicinity of the fabric into the pipe I2. However, stopping of the link I9 does not stop the lever 22 since the rod 21 is free to slide in the socket 28 and the spring 36 may be extended by the pulling of the lever 22.

A shaft 3| extends lengthwise of the box and is mounted in the ends thereof. A plurality of sleeves 32 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 3|, being capable of rocking thereabout during operation of the machine. Each sleeve 32 carries a beater arm 33, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6. The beater arms are formed from heavy wire or light rods and are held in the channel formed in the projections 33a extending from the sleeves 32. A holding plate 33b clamps the beater arm in the projection 33a, being held in place by the bolt 33c. Arms 34 extend from the sleeves 32 in the opposite direction from the arms 33 into proximity to cam members 35 carried by a shaft 36. The shaft 36 has at one of its ends a crank 31 to which is pivotally connected a link 38. This link 38 is pivotally connected to a lever or rock arm 39 which is pivotally mounted at 46 upon one end of the box or casing I. The purpose of these connections will be described shortly.

The shaft 36 extends out through the second end of the casing I and has a belt pulley 4| mounted thereon. A belt 42 passes over this pulley and over a pulley on shaft 43. The pulley on shaft 43 is connected by a belt 44 to a pulley on shaft 45 which carries and actuates the fan of the blower I3. The shaft 43 is driven by any suitable motor, such as an electric motor, which may transmit its power through a belt 46. A lever 41 is pivotally mounted on the end of the casing I and carries at one end a belt pulley 48, the purpose of which is to tighten the belt 42 and hold it in driving engagement with the pulley M and the pulley on the end of shaft 43. A latching member 49 secures the lever 41 in belttightening position, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The pulley on the end of shaft 43 may be either a long single pulley or a pair of pulleys.

A belt pulley 56 on shaft 36 is connected by a belt 5| with the pulley 53 on the shaft 52. Inside of the casing, the shaft 52 carries a brush 54 which it rotates with relation to the fabric being cleaned so that the brush, when it is rotated, brushes the upper side of the fabric passing through the machine. A leather or rubber dust shield 55 closes the opening in the back of the casing I, through which the fabric 5 passes, and extends downwardly into contact with the fabric, as shown in Fig. 5. Inside of the upper portion of the casing are mounted sprockets 56, 51, and 58, and over these passes a sprocket chain 59. Fabric actuators 69 and GI are connected to the chain 59 and are arranged to engage the fabric and move the same along as the chain is moved by rotation of the shaft 62 carrying the sprockets 58.

Rotation of the shaft 36 causes reciprocation of the link 38 and oscillation of the lever 39. The upper end portion of the lever 39 is slotted, as indicated at 63. A pin 64 extends through the slot 63 and is adjustable up and down by means of the mechanism shown in the upper part of Fig. 2. This mechanism comprises the link 65, the bell-crank 66, and the notched bar 61. When this bar 61 is lifted and pushed or pulled, it causes the pin 54 to slide downward or upward in the slot 63, and this varies the amount of longitudinal motion of the pawl 68 engaging the ratchet wheel 69. This ratchet wheel is secured to the shaft 62 and rotary motion is therefore transmitted to this shaft from the shaft 36. The pawl 68 is held in position with relation to the ratchet 69 by means of the guide loop Ill secured to the end of the casing. The amount of rotation which may be given to the shaft 62 upon each rotation of the shaft 36 is varied by varying the position of the pin 64 in the slot 63 which, as pointed out above, is varied by changing the position of the notched bar 61. From this it will be apparent that the rate of travel of the fabric through the machine is dependent upon the position of the notched bar 61 and that its motion is intermittent.

A dog II pivotally connected to the end of the casing I engages in the notches of the ratchet 69 and normally prevents reverse rotation thereof, thus insuring advancing motion of the chain 59 and. the fabric 5. A link I2 is pivotally connected to the dog II and the crank I3, and the dog may therefore be withdrawn from the ratchet 69, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, if the shaft I4 is given rotary motion in the right direction to accomplish this. Such rotary motion can be caused by the arm I5, which is secured to the shaft 14, being moved forwardly by the fabric 5. This movement is illustrated in Fig. 9. From Figs. 2 and 9 it will be apparent that the dog II will remain in engagement with the ratchet 69 until the fabric has been advanced far enough to force the arm I5 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9. While the dog II engages the teeth of ratchet 69, it prevents backward rotation thereof, and the pawl 58, reciprocating because of the action of the crank 31 and link 38, will force the ratchet 69 to move forwardly.

A pair of crossbars 15 are secured to the two chains 59 at the two ends of the machine and are carried forwardly thereby as the chains travel about the sprocket wheels. These crossbars 19 extend lengthwise of the machine and have the fabric-engaging members 69 and BI spaced along the length thereof so as to engage the fabric at spaced points in the width thereof, regardless of the width of the fabric. A slotted guide 11, pivotally mounted at 18, has a spring 19 mounted in the slot in the guide. A block 89 is also mounted within the slot and is longitudinally notched for reception of the .arms of the guide. One of these devices is arranged at each end of the machine to be engaged by the end portions of the crossbars 16. As a crossbar I advances with the chain 59 into engagement with the blocks 80, the springs 79 are compressed and the guides Tl swing about their pivots 18, passing the sprockets 53 and permitting the crossbar to rise within the casing. When the crossbar is released from the guides, the latter drop into the position shown in Fig. 8 and are ready for cooperation with the next crossbar as it comes along. The purpose of the springs 79 is to force the crossbar l6 backwardly when it may move in that direction, due to the dog ll being retracted from the ratchet 69. This occurs only when the arm 15 is swung toward the wall 55 by the fabric moving through the machine. As soon as the fabric has passed entirely out of the machine, the arm 15 swings downwardly again to the full line position shown in Fig. 9 to wait for the next fabric to come along when it moves forwardly again, as illustrated in Fig. 9. When the dog 1! is not engaging the ratchet 69, the crossbars l6 and the chains 59 connected thereto will move back and forth until the fabric has passed completely through the machine and released the arm I5 so that the dog ll again engages the ratchet 69. A part 8| of the frame of the machine projects outwardly and carries a bracket 82 which serves as a support for the guide Ti. A pin 83 mounted in this bracket prevents the guide from going downwardly too far, as will be obvious from an examination of Fig. 8.

Rods 85 extend transversely across the machine and, as shown in Fig. 1, are provided with bends intermediate their ends to accommodate the loops in the end portions of the beating arms 33. These rods 85 serve the purpose of supporting the fabric in position to be beaten, and they serve to permit the easy sliding of the fabric through the machine. A heavy netting 89 is supported above the rods 85 and it is between these elements 85 and 86 that the fabric slides when moving through the machine. The netting 83 is pivotally connected at one edge to the frame of the machine so that it may be tipped upwardly to get at the supporting rods and beater arms to replace same in event such should become necessary. In order to permit the lifting of this netting, a portion 8! of the machine top, hinged to the machine frame, is pivotally connected thereto so that it may be lifted in order to get at the netting, as well as the brush 54, rods 85, and other parts within this portion of the machine.

Springs 89 are connected to the arms 34, individually, so that each beater arm may oscillate separately under the influence of its own spring 89. A section 90-of the machine top is hingedly connected to the machine frame and may be lifted up to get at the internal structure of the machine in this portion thereof. The springs 89 are illustrated as being connected at one end to the arms 34 and at the other end to eyes 9| secured in a frame 92, shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. One of the levers 22 is connected to each of the frames 92 and serves as a means for putting the beater arms into operating position. These beater arms 33 have two positions which may be regarded as normal, one of them being the position shown in Fig. 5 and the other the position occupied by these arms when the levers are pulled downwardly so as to force the beater arms 33 into engagement with the fabric passing through the machine.

A crossbar 93 is mounted near the forward edge of the machine and extends lengthwise thereof to support one edge of a plate 94, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The opposite edge of the plate 94 is bent downwardly, as shown in this figure, and rests upon a bar or series of bars 95 supported by a set of springs 96. These springs rest upon and are supported by supporting brackets 91 secured to the plate If), as is best illustrated in Fig. 5. The springs 96 force the plate upwardly and this engages the fabric 5 and forces it more or less into contact with the screen 85.

Stated briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows. The fabric is first rolled upon the roller 4 which is then mounted in the brackets 2 and 3. The free end of the fabric is then inserted just above the plate 94 and pushed in until the pointed members 69 or 6| can engage the fabric when the operating motor of the machine is set in operation. The lever 22 is then pushed downwardly until the beating members 33 contact the fabric with the desired force. When the lever 22 is pushed downwardly, the springs 89 lift the beating arms 33 into engagement with the rug or other fabric. As the arm is pushed downward farther, the springs 89 are extended, and then, as the shaft 33 rotates, the cams 35 push the arms 34 upwardly, withdrawing the beater arms 33 from the fabric. As the cams are rotated still farther, the arms 94 are released, the beater arms being allowed to strike the fabric with a force dependent upon the amount of tension placed upon the springs 89. It is of course understood that the cams 35 are not set to release the beaters simultaneously but in staggered relation so that there will be a substantially constant resistance to the rotation of the shaft 36 in order not to cause excessive power demand upon the motor at any one time.

As the fabric goes through the machine, it is rolled up in the trough 1 and is therefore not permitted to get into the dirt upon the floor. Also, when rolled up in this way, it is ready to be picked up and carried away from the machine after it has gone through completely, unless it be desired to put it through again. In this event, it would again be rolled up on a roller 4 so it could be supported in the brackets 2 and 3.

As the rod I9 is pulled downwardly by the downward motion of the lever 22, the openings [5 are uncovered by the sliding of the valve members l 5, thus permitting the suction of the blower to withdraw from the fabric, in the vicinity of the brush 54, the dust and dirt upon the under side of the fabric. Since the details of operation are stated in connection with the detailed description of the machine, it is not considered necessary to repeat the same at this point to any greater length.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth herein may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a fabric cleaning machine comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a fabric, supporting means adjacent the outlet opening for receiving the cleaned fabric, beating means for beating the fabric as it passes through the machine; the combination of advancing means for advancing the fabric through the machine, said advancing means comprising at least one bar extending in the direction of the length of the machine and having pointed fabricengaging units spaced therealong in positions to engage the fabric.

2. A structure as defined by claim 1 in combination with oscillating means for causing reciprocating movement of the advancing means.

3. A rug or carpet cleaning machine having a casing provided with inlet and outlet openings for the passage therethrough of a fabric to be cleaned, mechanism for advancing the fabric through said openings in the casing, beater mechanism for beating the fabric as it passes through the casing, regulating means for regulating the force of the beating by the beater mechanism, suction means for drawing dust-laden atmosphere out of the casing, said suction means having an opening or openings adjacent the fabric during the beating, closure means for closing or opening said opening or openings of the suction means, and adjustable mechanism for connecting the regulating means with said closure means to cause opening of said openings of the suction means when the beater mechanism is put into operation and closure of the last mentioned openings when the beater mechanism is made inoperative.

4. In a fabric cleaning machine having a chamber therein open at one side, the chamber being arranged to have the fabric stretched over its open side, a suction pipe in said chamber having an opening directed toward and. in proximity to the fabric, a valve-closure member for closing said opening, a lever pivotally connected with said chamber, a linkage connecting said lever and said valve-closure member, fabric beating elements mounted in said chamber, and springs connecting said lever and said beating elements, said lever, when moved in one direction, increasing the tension of said springs and thereby increasing the beating force of said beating elements and, when moved in the opposite direction, decreasing the tension of said springs and causing decrease in the size of opening in said suction member.

5. A structure as defined by claim 4 in which the linkage comprises a readily extensible member composed of a plurality of relatively slidable elements, connected by a spring tending to longitudinally contract said member.

6. In a fabric cleaning machine comprising a casing through which the fabric to be cleaned is moved, said casing having a lever mounted therein and means for holding said lever in various positions of adjustment, a shaft extending longitudinally of said casing and having a plurality of beater elements pivotally mounted thereon for independent motion about the shaft, a second shaft extending longitudinally of the casing and carrying a plurality of cams, each cam being adapted to operate one of the beater elements, said cams being connected with the second mentioned shaft to rotate therewith and cause pivotal motion of the beater elements about the shaft upon which they are mounted; the combination of fabric supporting means arranged to have the beater elements swing between them into engagement with the fabric, and means for biasing the beating elements into fabric-engaging positions, the last mentioned means being connected to said lever so that adjustment of said lever will cause variation of at least one position of adjustment, rendering the beating elements inoperative.

MARTIN A. THOMPSON. 

